Tosh Lupoi: Rules allegations 'untrue'

The Huskies' defensive line coach posted on his Twitter account on Thursday: "I look forward to an honest & thorough investigation.''

Washington confirmed to The Associated Press that it is looking into allegations of recruiting violations against Lupoi, first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

On Thursday, recently departed Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian told ESPNLosAngeles.com he was informed last week that Lupoi was being investigated for potential violations of NCAA rules after he allegedly paid for tutoring and online classes for a recruit. Sarkisian said the investigation likely will prevent Lupoi from getting a job on USC's staff.

"I learned of the allegations this past Friday and I was obviously surprised by them," Sarkisian said. "I think this potential allegation could affect not only Tosh's future at USC but moving forward anywhere."

The Times reported on Wednesday that Washington and USC were looking into the allegations against Lupoi, who is in his second year as the Huskies' defensive line coach. He was hired in 2012 by Sarkisian, who was Washington's head coach at the time of the potential violations. Sarkisian left the Huskies for the head-coaching job at USC earlier this month.

"I will say at my time at Washington I did everything in my power to promote a compliant atmosphere and I'm going to do the exact same thing here at USC," Sarkisian said. "We look at a variety of people to hire and we run background checks on every person that we do hire."

According to the Times, the allegations against Lupoi involve former Huskies defensive line recruit Andrew Basham (Martha Lake, Wash./Lynnwood), who signed a letter of intent with Washington as a member of the class of 2012 but did not qualify academically to enroll.

Mike Davis, a throwing coach who helped Basham win a state shot put title in track and field, told the Times that Lupoi gave him $3,000 for private tutoring for Basham and $1,500 to reimburse Basham's father for online classes.

Information from ESPNLosAngeles.com's Arash Markazi and The Associated Press was used in this report.